INTRODUCTION
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. Most of the anemic patients, especially women, suffer from mild to severe deficiency of iron. The hemoglobin (Hb) count in most adolescent girls in India is less than 12 g/dL. Most IDA-inflicted people include young children, pregnant women, and menstruating girls and women. Almost 50% of all pregnant women experience IDA during their pregnancies, and at least one out of five girls and women may experience it during their reproductive years.1
ANEMIA IN PREGNANCY
Both red blood cell (RBC) mass and plasma volume expand from the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Maternal Hb levels reach a nadir near the end of the 2nd trimester (i.e., diminish by approximately 5 g/L). The plasma expands about 30 to 40% in volume, which exceeds the 20 to 25% increase in RBC mass. Thus, there is a dilutional drop in Hb concentration, which promotes oxygen transport to the tissues including the placenta. Thus, it is no surprise that the physiological iron requirements are three times higher in pregnancy than they are in menstruating women, with increasing demand as pregnancy advances.2
About 1000 mg of iron is required during pregnancy, out of which 500 to 600 mg is required for RBC expansion, 300 mg for fetus and placenta, and the rest is utilized for the growing uterus. The prevalence of amenorrhea during pregnancy saves about 150 mg of iron, and therefore, about 850 mg of extra iron is required. Even then, about 500 mg of iron gets depleted, which cannot be replenished through diet alone. If iron stores are already deficient, then IDA, the most common type of anemia in pregnancy, manifests.3 Figure 1 shows the reasons of anemia and Table 1 shows the impact of anemia on mother and fetus.
Table 1
Impact of anemia on pregnancy outcomes
Table 2
Problems faced in eradication and how we are failing
HOW TO ERADICATE ANEMIA?
Identify problems associated with IDA eradication (Table 2).
Timely Detection of Anemia
All women require a complete blood examination (CBE) at the first antenatal visit to determine whether anemia, signs of evolving anemia, or features suggestive of a thalassemic syndrome/hemoglobinopathy are apparent (Fig. 2). Repeat CBE at 28 weeks.2
Prevention is Better than Cure
Twelve by twelve is an initiative aiming to have Hb of 12 g/dL by 12 years of age using prophylactic iron therapy and advising consumption of iron-rich food.3
Deworming: Oral antihelminthic treatment is safe for pregnant and lactating women. Thus, single albendazole (400 mg) or mebendazole (100 mg) doses twice daily for 3 days with iron supplementation should be given to all anemic pregnant women in the second and third trimesters for better results.3
Supplying folic acid tablets from the 1st month of pregnancy.
Adolescents should be educated about anemia and appropriate nutrition.
Nutrition
The recommended daily intake of iron for the latter half of pregnancy is 30 mg.
Absorption of iron increases 3-fold by the 3rd trimester, with iron requirements increasing from 1, 2 to 6 mg per day2
Iron nutritional status depends on long-term iron balance and is favoured by ingestion of adequate amounts of iron in the diet (native or fortified) or through iron supplementation.3
All women should be counseled regarding2
Dietary diversification: Pregnant women should consume iron-rich foods, such as jaggery, green leafy vegetables like spinach, mustard leaves, turnip green, cereals, and sprouted pulses and cook their food in iron utensils. Too much of cooking should be avoided.3
Food fortification: Fortification of foods with iron aims at improving and sustaining iron nutrition permanently. Iron fortification of common salt can be carried out and has been approved by the Government of India.3
Factors affecting iron absorptionrption are mentioned in Table 3.1,2
Supplementation
Dietary changes alone are insufficient to correct IDA and iron supplements are necessary.2
Figure 3 shows the iron supplementation at different phases
As most women start their pregnancy with anemia or low iron stores, prevention should start even before pregnancy. As a public health approach, prolonged oral supplementation beginning before the woman becomes pregnant may be a better strategy to benefit the majority of the population.3
Iron supplementation to the mother during pregnancy improves perinatal outcomes, such as the baby's weight, and Hb level 3 months after birth.3
Dose: 150 mg of elemental iron (750 mg iron salt)
Oral iron supplements are absorbed better on an empty stomach and are given in divided doses.
However, oral iron supplements exhibit side effects, such as heartburns, nausea, upper gastrointestinal disturbances, constipation, diarrhea, and teeth stains.
Parenteral supplementation
– Blood transfusion with packed cell volume components is carried out only in emergency situations to correct severe anemia. It can restore the Hb levels rapidly within 48 hours. However, precautionary measures need to be taken in order to reduce the risk of transmission of infections, transfusion reactions (Fig. 4).
CONCLUSION
Complete eradication of IDA is not feasible but a try can help us a long way. Only supplementation is not the answer. Going to the root cause, finding out current situation and managing accordingly by available resources is the correct answer.
The World Health Organization has recognized IDA in the general population as the most debilitating nutritional deficiency worldwide, noting women to be at particularly high risk. Such a problem, if ignored and not addressed properly, can have a devastating effect on entire populations with serious consequences. The developing world is most vulnerable to IDA. Awareness of the magnitude of the IDA during pregnancy and in nonpregnant females will help health practitioners in recognizing the best methods for diagnosis and treatment, in order to overcome IDA.5 The practitioners must focus on building iron stores, increasing patient compatibility of the treatment, prophylaxis of IDA, and utilizing the resources of oral iron, IV iron, and erythropoietin injection resourcefully.